Shipping coop



Oct. 4, 1949. o. F. CARPENTER SHIPPING COOP Filed Oct. 14, 1946 vf6@ Q J @MM Patented Oct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,483,52# SHIPPING ooo? Ose F. Carpenter, Brightwood, Va. Application october 14, 19'4-6, serial No. "103,179

(o1. eusse) 1 Claim.

l This invention relates 'to shipping coops for iive poultry. I

An object of this 'invention'is to provide a coop 'of this kind including an improved means for K securing and retaining the top cl'osur'e so that the top closure wil-l b'elable to withstand excessive weight without breaking.

Another object 'of this invention is to provide ash'ipping coop or crate which is formed with reinforcing longitudinal bars in the top wall thereof, the bars being mortised into the adjacent end bars and `valso including lower tongues engaging below the end bars so as to prevent splitting or breaking f the longitudinal bars at the ends thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a Shipping 'coop or crate wherein 'the supporting strap for the open end of the closure is formed to engage the top dowels closely adjacent the pair of intermediate longitudinal bars so that these dowels will not be put under undue strain when weight is placed on the longitudinal bars.

Another object of this invention is to provide a supporting strap for the open end of the closure formed to engage the top dowels closely adjacent the pair of intermediate longitudinal bars, making it unnecessary to use rivets, nails or other means for fastening this supporting strap to the intermediate longitudinal bars and in this way saving both the cost of rivets and the time required for drilling and riveting.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away and in section, of a shipping coop or crate for chickens or turkeys, constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on any one of the lines 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates generally a rectangular frame forming the tcp of a shipping coop or crate. The frame I3 is formed of longitudinal side members II, and transverse end members I2. The connection between Ythe adjacent ends o'f the 'side and end members Ii and I`-2 respectively is preferably a mort-isc and ten'on 'connection of 'conventional yConstruetiorii.

The iframe i@ has disposed between the opposite bers il thereof, fa -pair `of longitudinal inter- 'mediate bars i3 and V4. The l'rrgitudinal bars TI-'S and i4 are connected at the p'posite ends thereof to the end member I2 by a mortise and tenen connection or joint {175 and Iii-"as Vshown in Fig-ere 12, The height of 'the bars r3 and 1'4 is substantially greater than the height 'of the end members sfz, and as shown Figure the upper edges' of the interirreV late bars 'and I4 are with the upper sides 'of the end members I2. A reinforcing tongue I 'I yis formed parallel with the 'tenen 1s, and es shown in Figures 2 and t, the tongue I'I is adapted to engage beneath the lower side of the end member I2 and serves as a support for this end member, in addition to providing a reinforcing means to prevent the splitting or breaking of the intermediate bars when a weight is placed thereupon.

A plurality of elongated dowels I8 are eX- tended through the intermediate bars I3 and I4 and are sealed at the opposite ends thereof in sockets provided in the side members II. At a suitable point between the end members Il and I2, there are formed short dowels I9 which extend only between the side members II and the adjacent intermediate member I3 or I4, thereby providing an entrance opening 20.

A closure plate 2l is adapted to be disposed in the opening 2i) and is rockably mounted on an elongated metal bar 22, which as shown in -Figure 1, is sealed at the opposite ends thereof in sockets 23 formed in the side members Il. The closure 2l is spring-pressed to maintain this closure in substantially contacting relation with the inner side of the intermediate bar I3, by means of a spring 24, which is disposed about the bar or pivot member 22 and is sealed at its inner end in a socket 25 formed in the adjacent edge of the closure 2|. The closure 2l at the free end thereof is formed with a keeper or socket 2S within which a locking pin 2'I is adapted to engage. The spring 24 normally holds the closure 2l in a locking position, and the closure may be sealed in its locked position by means of a wire sealing means which may be extended through a hole 28 formed in the closure 2I, and then wrapped about the intermediate bar I3.

The locking pin 2T is formed integral with one of the short dowels designated I9a. This dowel extends entirely through the intermediate bar I3, as shown in Figure 1, and projects beyond this intermediate bar so as to provide the locking pin.

In order to provide a means for supporting the free end of the closure 2l when in closed position, I have provided a transversely extending horizontal strap generally designated as 29. The strap 29 includes an upwardly offset intermediate portion 30 which is adapted to engage the lower side of the closure 2| and is disposed between the two intermediate bars I3 and I4. The Strap 29 also includes downwardly and outwardly extending extensions 3l, terminating in horizontal portions 32, engaging beneath the lower edges of the intermediate bars I3 and I4. The outer ends of the horizontal portions 32 terminate in upwardly extending right angular extensions 33 which are formed with holes 34 through which the adjacent short dowels I9 are adapted to extend. The upwardly extending outer portions 33 of the strap are adapted to snugly engage against the outer side of the intermediate bars, and by having the upward extensions bear against the short dowels I9a at the point where these dowels enter the intermediate bars, the strap I9 will not tend to place any undue breaking strain on the short dowels when undue weight is placed on the closure 2|.

With a shipping coop or crate constructed as hereinbefore described, the top of the crate or coop will not break when undue weight such as the weight of a person is placed on the top of the crate. Furthermore, by providing the improved metal support bar for the free end oi the closure, the closure will not split when weight is placed thereon as is the case where the closure is formed 4 with a rabbet or engagement over one of the dowels between the intermediate bars.

I do not mean to confinemyself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a shipping coop having a top wall formed of a rectangular frame, dowels extending across the sides of the frame, and a pair of intermediate longitudinal bars between the ends of the frame each of said intermediate bars having a height greater than the height of said frame, the plane of the lower side of said bars being offset downwardly from the plane of the lower side of said frame; a closure pivotally disposed between said pair of bars, and a closure supporting strap fixed between said bars, said strap being formed with upturned apertured ends disposed on the outer sides of said longitudinal bars through which aligned dowels are adapted to engage for secur- A ing said strap on said coop, and said strap also including an upwardly oiset intermediate portion upon which the lower side of said closure is adapted to engage.

OSE F. CARPENTER.

REFERENCES CITED Tho following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 389,684 Beach Sept. 18, 1888 1,696,693 Rosenberger Dec. 25, 1928 1,977,761 Fry Oct. 23, 1934 2,296,805 Aylor Sept. 22, 1942 

